Connector for barges.



W. C. SANSOIVI.

`CONNECTOR FOR BARGES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2a. 1916..

1,231,067. Patented June 26, 1917.

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WALTER C. SANSOM, OF PlTTSBURGI-I, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONNECTOR FOR BARGES.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1917.

Application filed February 28, 1916. Serial No. 80,918.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, VALTER C. SANSOM, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and vState of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Connectors for Barges, of which improvements the following is a specification.

In making up tows for the transportation of coal down rivers, the loaded barges are collected from different mines along the river and brought two, three or more at a time to a harbor where the large tow is made up. Vhere there is considerable current, the barges are arranged ahead of the tow boat, so that it may control the movements of the tow. The barges, whether being collected to move them to the'harbor, orbeing arranged in large tows for movement to linal destination, are arranged end to end in two or more rows extending forward from the tow boat. It is'necessary that so far as possible, the barges and the tow boat should be rigidly connected together in order that the tow boat may control the movements, and especially to hold the tow against the current and hence the connections between the barges forming a tow must be especially secure. Heretofore it has been the practice to connect the rear end of one barge yto the front or bow of the next by chains wrapped around the snubbing posts in the stern and bow of the respective barges, and to tighten such chains by what is known as screw ratchets. The tow boats which collect the barges and move them to a harbor, are provided with chains and ratchets for forming the small tows, and when the latter are brought to a harbor, these chains and ratchets are removed and returned to the tow boat, so that when the large tows are made up, the barges are secured together by the chains and ratchets of the steamboat, which is to move the large tow. This practice entails very hard work and considerable time in moving the chains and ratchets from the tow boat out to different points along the tow and back again to the tow boat. And further, very hard work and considerable time are required in connecting barges after the chains and ratchets have been brought to the points of use.

The obj ect of the invention described herein is to provide means consisting of complementary parts for connecting two barges under proper tension. The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure l shows in plan portions of three barges connected end to end by my improved means; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the adjoining ends of two steel barges having my improved connecting means applied thereto, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of two wooden barges showing the manner of attaching the connecting means thereto. Fig. 4L is a detail of the actuating handle.

1 My improved connector consists of two parts, one of said parts being formed of a steel bar or wire rope 1 having one end connected by a link 2, to an anchor, which may be secured to the barge adjacent to the snubbing posts in any suitable manner. As for example, if the barge is lmade of wood, the anchor is formed of an angle et, having a hole in one arm, the other arm being bolted to the side of the barge in such manner that the arm having the eye will bear against the snubbing post 5, so that the latter will receive the strains transmitted to the connector. The free end of the bar or rope l is provided with a plurality of links 6, for engagement by a hook forming a member of the other part of the connector. While any suitable form of hook may be employed, it is preferred to use the construction shown, consisting of an arm 7 having an elbow 8 connected by a short link to a longer link 9. When forming a connection the arm 7 is passed through one of the links 6 and shifted against one of the sides of the link 9, where it is held by sliding a ring 10 mounted on the side of the link over the end of the arm. The link 9 passes through an eye on the end of a threaded stem 11 adapted to screw into one end of an internally threaded sleeve 12. The threads at the respective ends of the sleeve have opposite pitches, so that the stems 11 and 13 will be moved in opposite directions when the sleeve is rotated. The outer end of the stem 13 is flexibly connectedto onegend of a steelbar or section of Wire rope 14, which has its opposite end connected by a link 15 toanleyefl formed on the end of an arm of an angle 17 similar tothe angle 4.; In'lieu of employing-2 angle pieces to secure the connectors to the barges, it is preferred when'the bargesare" constructed of steel, to employ screw eyes 3 havingthreaded stems `18, which are passed through the east steel plate 19 earrying'tl'ie snubbing posts 20,and held in position by.

gether, the parts ofthe connector on `oneY barge are 1n line with their complementary.

parts on the other barge,l and it is only necessary-to connect these 'two parts in'the' mani ner described, and then rotate the sleeve 1Q in proper ldirection to draw the two bargesVA firmly 'togetherl The sleeve 12 may be rotated by any suitable means', but'p'referablyl bya lever "21 ro tatably mounted on the sleeve. and provided Withra paWl 2Q adapted to engagea ratchet Wheel secured to the sleeve. It is preferred a that a double paWl should -be employed and the ratchet Wheel so constructed that the sleeveeanbe rotated in either direction by the lever.

I elai-mherein as my invention: n

1.` A barge having in combination therewith l 'a pair 'of complementary connecting elements located at each endof the barge, oney element of each pairbeing .provided With Lmeans for vary'ingits' length7 like Ieonneetinggele'rnents `bei,nglocated at diagonally opposite corners of the barge; Y

2935A bargerhgwingKA in A`combination there- Witlia pair of Complementary.'lleXible oonneetingielements,"located at each end ofv thebarge', one element of eaelrpair being provided 'with means for varying'I itslength movably-but vpermanently connected to each' end of :the barge, likey connecting elements being 'loated at diagonallyopposite corners of' the barge and Ineansfor detachably `conneotingthe'el'rnents of one barge With'compleinentary elementsl on "an adjoining barge.v In testimony whereoh rave hereunto set rnyhand.v1 y l A VLTER CL SANSOML VVltness':- c f ALICE A; TRI'LLQ- 

